Password tops list of passwords - The West Australian

"Password" has topped the list of 25 most common passwords for the second year in a row, according to password management company SplashData.

"123456" was the second most popular password in 2012, followed by "12345678" - both unchanged from last year.

"Even though each year hacking tools get more sophisticated, thieves still tend to prefer easy targets," SplashData chief executive Morgan Slain said in a statement.

"Just a little bit more effort in choosing better passwords will go a long way toward making you safer online."

Some people looked to a higher authority for protection from hackers, with "Jesus" making an appearance on the list this year, PC Advisor reported.

The Daily Mail said other new entries to the list included "ninja", "mustang" and "password1".

SplashData warned that users of the 25 passwords on the list were "most likely to be victims" of hackers in the future.

For people who struggle to remember their multiple passwords - and let's face it, that's most of us - SplashData recommends they use a "password manager application that organises and protects passwords", CBS News reported.